Apparently drawn by county and statewide judicial races, voter turnout in the town and village of Fredonia was higher than expected Tuesday, especially considering there were no contested races in either community.

Nearly half the eligible voters in the town — 46.43% — went to the polls while turnout was slightly less, at 38.46%, in the village.

A Milwaukee River choked by ice, crested at record-high levels and caused historic flooding that overwhelmed houses and businesses, swept away trees and devastated a park in northern Ozaukee County’s river communities late last week and early this week.

“It came in like a tsunami. I’ve been here 37 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Reginald “Tony” Rotheray said while cleaning out his Voiture Ltd. car repair shop in Waubeka. “I’ve talked to people who’ve lived here for 60 years and they never saw anything like this.”